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CLINICAL STUDIES PROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ELECTRICAL MUSCLE
STIMULATION
Electrical muscle stimulation is now a recognized technique whose effectiveness has been
confirmed by numerous scientific publications. Some of these studies have been carried out in
partnership with Compex.
EFFECTIVENESS: improved strength and performance in healthy individuals and athletes
IS HIGH-FREQUENCY NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION A
SUITABLE TOOL FOR MUSCLE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN BOTH
HEALTHY HUMANS AND ATHLETES?
Gondin et al., European Journal of Applied Physiology, Oct 2011, Vol. 111(10), pp.
2473-87.
In this French study, the authors reviewed the literature with the purpose of giving an
overview of the benefits and limitations of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) in healthy
individuals, recreational and competitive athletes.
EMS training results in significant increase of muscle strength.
When EMS is combined with dynamic voluntary exercises, it can also improve sport specific
skills and performance, like jump performance, sprint ability.
EMS is an interesting training tool for athletes, because during electrical stimulation the ‘fasttwitch’ muscle fibres can be activated more easily at lower force levels, whereas during
voluntary exercise these fibres are usually recruited for higher power levels.
EMS appears as a method of choice when the time available for strengthening program is
limited and also it provides diversity and variability in the training program, which might
enhance athlete's motivation.
The authors conclude there is compelling evidence that electrical stimulation is a relevant and
efficient complement to voluntary resistance training protocols for muscle strength
improvement. It is also a legal complement for athletes (e.g. as compared to doping
procedures).
EFFECTS OF COMBINED ELECTROMYOSTIMULATION AND GYMNASTICS
TRAINING IN PREPUBERTAL GIRLS
Deley et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Feb 2011, Volume 25(2) pp.
520-526.
Strength training is an important training aspect in gymnasts because of the high explosive
efforts that are required.
In this French study, a Compex Sport device was used to investigate the effects of a 6-week
combined electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and gymnastic training program on muscle
strength and vertical jump performance of prepubertal gymnasts.
16 young women gymnasts were randomly divided into two groups: one group received EMS
training of the knee extensors in addition to the gymnastic training, and the other group
(control group) received gymnastic training only.
After the first 3 weeks of EMS training there was a significant increase in muscle strength of
the knee extensors as well as jumping performance, whereas the control group showed no
changes in the same parameters.
The improvements in jump ability were still maintained 1 month after the end of the EMS
training program.
The authors suggest integrating short-term EMS strength training into the training of young
gymnasts, for strength and jumping ability improvements.
EFFECTS OF AN ELECTROSTIMULATION TRAINING PROGRAM ON
STRENGTH, JUMPING, AND KICKING CAPACITIES IN SOCCER PLAYERS
Billot et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, May 2010, Vol. 24(5), pp.
1407-1413.
In this French study, a Compex Energy device was used to investigate the effect of a 5-week
electrostimulation (EMS) training program on muscular strength (Quadriceps), kicking
velocity, sprint, and vertical jump performance in soccer players.
20 male soccer players were randomly divided into two training groups: one group (EMS
group) received EMS on the quadriceps muscles during 5 weeks (3 sessions of 12 minutes per
week) and soccer training, the other group (control group) only had the soccer training.
On the Compex device the ‘Strength’ program was selected at level 5.
The athletes were tested after 3 and 5 weeks training and at both assessments, they showed
significant improvements in Quadriceps muscle strength parameters as well as in ball speed
performance, while these improvements were not seen in the control group.
The authors recommend the use of EMS to complement traditional training for soccer, as it
appears to be a viable means for improving force and specific soccer tasks. It can also infuse
variability into the training program, which might enhance the motivation of some players.
Furthermore, the authors also recommend its use for injured athletes to attenuate or eliminate
detraining effects.
EFFECTIVENESS: enhanced muscle recovery
EFFECT OF THREE DIFFERENT BETWEEN-INNING RECOVERY METHODS
ON BASEBALL PITCHING PERFORMANCE
Warren et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, March 2011, Volume
25(3), pp. 683-688.
In baseball (and also other sports), in order to consistently perform at the highest level during
competition, recovery of the muscles in the rest periods in between high performance innings
is important.
In this Californian study, the authors compared the effectiveness of three forms of recovery in
order to determine which one was most effective after an inning of pitching in baseball:
1. passive recovery: no activity for 6 minutes
2. active jogging recovery: 6 minutes jogging
3. active EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) recovery: 6 minutes ‘active recovery’ program
with Compex Sport of the arm and shoulder muscles.
The active electrical muscle stimulation recovery with the Compex Sport produced the
highest reduction in blood lactate levels as compared to the other recovery methods which had
no significant effect on blood lactate. Reduction of blood lactate allows for the recovery of the
muscle, which should allow for better performance in the subsequent pitching activity.
It was indeed measured that pitching speed following NMES recovery was higher compared
to pitching speed after jogging recovery.
Psychological measurement showed that subjective, perceived recovery was also better after
the Compex versus jogging recovery session, which may also potentially contribute to an
increase in pitching performance during the next inning.
The authors recommend electrical muscle stimulation as the recovery method of choice for
baseball pitchers because of superior blood lactate clearance and better self-reported recovery.
COMPARISON OF SWIM RECOVERY AND MUSCLE STIMULATION ON
LACTATE REMOVAL AFTER SPRINT SWIMMING
Neric et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Dec 2009, Volume 23(9) pp.
2560-2567.
Competitive swimming requires multiple bouts of high-intensity exercise, leading to elevated
blood lactate. Active exercise recovery has been shown to lower lactate faster than passive
resting recovery but may not always be practical.
This Californian study aimed to evaluate the effect of active recovery with electrical
stimulation versus submaximal swimming recovery and passive resting recovery.
Blood lactate levels were tested before and immediately after a 200yrd swimming sprint, as
well as after 10 min (‘mid-recovery’) and 20 min (‘post-recovery’) of recovery.
At both recovery assessments, blood lactate levels were most decreased with the submaximal
swimming recovery method. However electrical muscle stimulation recovery also produced
significantly better lactate reduction compared to resting recovery.
Therefore the authors propose electrical stimulation as an alternate recovery treatment for the
purpose of lowering blood lactate. There may be situations in which the athlete has limited
access to a pool, or is physically or psychologically exhausted and not motivated to continue
to exercise, or simply seeks an alternate recovery treatment. In these situations, using
electrical stimulation to produce muscle contractions while otherwise resting may be of
benefit in helping reduce muscle and blood lactate before subsequent performance.
PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES in muscles and nerves
ELECTROMYOSTIMULATION TRAINING EFFECTS ON NEURAL DRIVE AND
MUSCLE ARCHITECTURE
Gondin et al. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2005, Volume 37(8) pp. 12911299.
With electrical muscle stimulation being largely employed as a means of strength training, the
authors of this French study wanted to investigate the adaptations that occur in the muscles
and nerves that are subject to electrical muscle stimulation.
Therefore they divided 20 subjects into an electrostimulated group and a control group.
The EMS group received an 8-week EMS training program of the quadriceps muscles with a
Compex Sport device.
Maximal muscle strength was increased with 27% after 8 weeks of EMS training – while no
strength gains were noted in the control group.
On the neural level, the authors found that EMS training enhanced the overall activity of the
stimulated muscle: the motor nerves are able to activate more muscle fibres with EMS.
On the muscle level, EMS training produced increased quadriceps muscle mass (measured by
cross sectional area of the muscle) and changes towards a more efficient muscle architecture.
Neural adaptations occurred mainly during the first 4 weeks of training, while muscle
adaptations became significant between 4 and 8 weeks of training.
It was concluded that the strength gains with electrical muscle stimulation training are
associated with neural as well as muscular adaptations.